Oil-cup structure



July 9, 1929. J. s. REID 1,720,348

OIL CUP STRUCTURE Filed 001'.. 13,11926 me/wrom Patented July 9, 1929.

JAMES S. REllD, GF CLEVELAND, OHXO, ASSIGNGR, BY MESSER ASSGNMENTS, T0THE EATON AXLE 6r SPRNG COMPANY, Gl? CLEVEIJAIYD, UHI, A GOR-FRHJIOIT GFOHIO.

Application filed October i3, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in oil cup structures andparticularly, oil cup structures especially adapted or the lubricationof vehicle springs et the composite or multiple lea'iE type. l

The object ot the present invention is the provision ot an improved oilcup structure provided with integral means tor enabling the structure tobe removably mounted upon a vehicle spring` by snap engagement, therebyavoiding the necessity of pertoratiiml or ojher4 wise deliorming thespring or ot providing; separate securing means, such as screws or boltsand nuts; which oil cup structure iii-- cludes an oil t *ansmittingmember of 'telt or other similar material, the parts ot the structurebeing so arranged that said oil transmitting` member is not undulycompressed by the pressure ot the metal part-s; and which oil cupstructure is oit simple and inexpensive form.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation of the front endof a vehicle trame with my improved oil cup structure mountee upon avehicle spring; Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view ot the oilcup structure taken on the line QPQ, Fig. 4l; Fig. 3 is a detail planView oi' the oil cup structure with the closure removed; and Fig. 4 is aside elevation ot `the oil cup structure.

In the drawings, l represents the iront axle of a motor vehicle, uponwhich aille is mounted, through the medium ot a composite or multipleleat' spring` 2, the running gear :trame 3 of the vehicle, said springlbeingl se cured to the trame in the usual way and being1 secured to theaxle by the usual U-bolts fl.

Mounted upon one end portion ot said spring, such as the t'ront endportion, is my improved oil cup structure, trom which oil will tlow bygravity to the several leaves of the spring, as will readily beunderstood. For purposes ot illustration, the body portion of the oilcup structure and the closure therei'or are shown as being of su`tstantially the same construction as disclosed in my prior patent forclosures, No. 1,593,846, granted July 27, 1926, to which patentreierence ma be had, it desired. i

The body portion o'l' the oil cup structure includes a substantiallycylindrical wall 7 Serial No. 141,343.

provided at its lower end, at two opposed. sides, with twodependinpspring,1 clamping,l portie-ns 8, preferably formed integraltherewith, a shown. Such clamping-g; portions are adapted to yieldinglyengage the side edge portions oit one or more oit the spring` leaves,one leaf in the present embodiment. rlhe mounting et the oil cupstructure upon the vehicle spring by snap engagement notonly avoids thenecessity ot' perforating or otherwise del'forming the spring, withconsequent we:ilteniuj ;1 ot the same, but also avoids the necessity oiproviding separate seciu'inp; means, such. as t screws or bolts` andnuts. lilioreover, it enables the oil cup structure to be very easilyand quickly applied to and re moved from the vehicle spring and withoutdepartingl from a connection therebetween which is sutliciently secureas to prevent the oil cup structure trom becoming loose or detached andlost. i

The cylindrical body portion i' provided at its upper end with aninwardly extending, substantially horizontal flange l() which terminatesin a depending l'langije ll. fit two diametrically opposed points,portions ot iianges l0 and ll are cut away to provide two openings orpassageways 12, through which the locking` fingers ont the closure areadapted to he passed, as will later appear. The cutting,v away otportions ot said ilang'es pro vides two dependingl tlange portions lloi' substantially semi-circular form, and the botw tom edges of these'flange portions are suitably inclined, as indicated in Fig. 2, toprovide cams 13 with which the locking; lingers of the closure cooperatein eltectinp,I detachable locking;` connection ot the closure and thecup or body portion. lit the rear ends of said cams 13, the flangeportions ll are each provided with a depending` lug or projection lil,which provide stops for the looking,` lingers of the closure when saidiingers are traveling up the cams 13. i

The closure ot the structure includes a cir cular top portion. 18provided with a centrally disposed dome 19 and a depending marginal orskirt portion 20 slightly larger in diameter than the cylindrical bodyportion 7. Crin'ipcd or otherwise suitably secured with- .in said domeis the substantially circular body portion @l of a locking; member whichis provided. with two opposed, inherently resilient locking lingers 2Q,ext-ending down Wardly and outwardly from said body portion.

The closure is removably applied to the body portion by passingthe'closure locking lingers 22 down through the passageu'ays 12 yof thebody portion and thereafter turning said closure in a clockwisedirection. This causes the closure locking lingers to ride up the cams13 of the body portion, the turning movement ot the closure beingcontinued until the lingers thereof strike theV stop portions 14, Whichdenotes full seating position of the closure. To remove the closure, itis only necessary tosturn it in the reverse direction, as Will bereadily understood. v

Arranged Within the lower end of the cylindrical body portion 7 is a cupshaped member 25,V Which constitutes the bottomuall of the oil cupstsuctur The upwardly eX- tending, annular flange 26 of said membersnugly engages the inner surface of the body portion 7, the frictionalengagement therebetween lbein-g sufliciently great to maintain saidbottom member in proper position, especially with the assistance ottlieWeight ot the oil Within the structure. However, it desired, said flange26 may be positively secured to the body'portion-' ,as will be readilyunderstood.

Interposed between the vehicle spring and the 'bottom Wall 25 of the-oil cup structure is an oil transmitting member 28 of felt or othersuitable material, which member is here shown as being of circular shapeand of substantially the same diameter as the oil cup structure. Saidoil transmitting member is secured to the bottom Wall of the oil cupstructure by a split rivet 29, Which permits theoil in the body portion7 to flow to said member. Said member is therefore maintained in a moreor less saturated condition so that a sufficient amount of oil. istransmitted to the leaves ofthe spring to keep them inproperlylubricated condition. Due to the particular arrangement oftheparts, the oil transmitting member is not unduly compressed ?by thepressure of other parts ofthe oil cup structure but is maintainedrelatively soft and yielding and therefore Ain proper condition forreceiving and transmitting oil to the spring.

Vhat I claimis:

1. An oil cup structure, comprising a lubricant receiving containeradapted tor removable connection to the device to be lubricated, alubricant transmitting member interposed betweensaid container and saiddevice, and means for securing said member to said container, saidsecuring means being provided with a passage to permit the loiv oflubricant from said container to said member.

2. An oil cup structure, comprising a lubricant receiving containeradapted for removable connection to the device to be lubricated, alubricant receiving member interposed between said container and saiddevice, and a hollow rivet for securin T said member to said container,said rivet permitting tlie passage of lubricant therethrough `from saidcontainer to said member.

Anoil cup structure, comprising a lubricant receiving container adaptedlor removable connection to the device to be lulnicated, said containerbeing provided with a movable bottom Wall, and a lubricant transmittingmember interposed between said container bottom Wall and said device.

4. Lubricating means, comprising a capclosed lubricant receivingcontainer provided With opposed integral lingers for snap engagementwith the device to be lubricated, said container beingl provided with aseparate substantially cup-shaped bottom wall, a lubricant transmitting`member interposed between said device and the bottom Wall ot saidcontainer, and a hollow rivet connecting said member to the bottom vvallolt said container and permitting the passage of' lubricant trom saidcontainer to said transmitting member.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my si gnature.

JAMES S. REID.

